Showoroses blossoming ahead of Te Rapa test

[Wandering Eyes]

Showoroses will be out to add to her bouquet of Group victories when she heads to Te Rapa on Saturday.

The daughter of Showcasing will attempt to defend her crown in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) and add to her three prior Group scalps.

She heads into the race in winning form, having scored in the Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at the Hamilton track last month.

It was a rewarding win after finishing runner-up in the race last year and trainer Joanne Surgenor has been pleased with her progress since then.

“She is good, she pulled up well and her work is good, I couldn’t be happier,” she said.

“She has improved and she is happy in herself.”

Showoroses beat just one runner home when first-up in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) two starts back but Surgenor said that luck had a lot to play with the result and she had improved immensely leading into her last start triumph.

“She was unlucky, she didn’t get out of the gates well and she got held up, and then held up again in the straight,” she said. “If she got better luck, she would have been closer.

“She loves this time of year and has come to life now.”

Surgenor is looking forward to Saturday and said her barrier is the only concern.

“Unfortunately we have drawn barrier one,” she said. “She likes to get out in the clear running. I am sure Michael (McNab, jockey) will be able to negotiate that. Hopefully we can have a good day out.”

TAB bookmakers share Surgenor’s optimism and have installed Showoroses a $2.40 favourite ahead of Concert Hall at $3.30 and Mai Tai and Slave To Love at $7.50.

All going to plan after the weekend, Showoroses will press on to Ellerslie on New Year’s Day to defend the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) before eyeing some elite-level targets.

“She will probably go to the Rich Hill Mile like she did last year and then see how things go,” Surgenor said.

“Hopefully we can get a Group One this season somewhere along the way.

“I have nominated for the Herbie Dyke (Gr.1, 2000m) but at this point we are unsure of whether she would get the 2000m, but you have to nom to be in.”

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